Bag-lock



(No Model.)

-L. B; CUTLER.

BAG LOOK.

No. 396,029. Patented Jan. 8, 1889.

N. PETERS Phoio-Lilhngmpher. walhingmn. D. C.

ATENT FFICEQ LYMAN B. CUTLER, OF MONMOUTH, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VALLACE GREENE, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

BAG-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,029, dated January 8, 1889.

Application filed December 1, 1888. Serial No. 292,415. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LYMAN B. CUTLER, a resident of Monmouth, in the county of 'arren and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Bags; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in accompanying drawings, whereinr 5 Figure 1 shows the upper part of an open bag provided with my devices. Fig. 2 is a partial top view of the same when closed, a small portion being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a section on the line so as, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of the parts seen in Fig. 2.

The object of the invention is to provide a mail-bag that by the simple act of closing it shall be secured at a series of points in such manner that looking with an ordinary pad- 2 5 look may prevent disengagement at any of the said points.

To accomplish the objects an ordinary bag, A, is provided at its open end with two opposing metallic jaws, B B, bent downward at 0 each end and pivoted together at C, so that when open they form an approximately-rectangular frame. The jaws may be conveniently formed of two strips, B B, the inner one fiat, the outer L-shaped in cross-section, 3 5 and between these the edges of the mail-bag are secured by rivets D. The inner face of one of the jaws bears a series of hooked projections, E, and the inner face of the other a series of cor)'espondingly-arranged catches, 40 E, adapted to receive the hooks E when the jaws are closed. In order that they may engage, however, the jaws must move longitudinally with reference to each other and then return to their normal position, bringing the hooks within the catches. To cause this movement auioniatically as the jaws close, lugs G G are so placed upon thejaws,respectivcly, that as the mail-bag closes the end of one lug passes along the inclined surface of a projection on the other, forcing them in opposite directions far enough to let the hooks pass the ends of the catches. Just as this other, and if this be prevented the mail-bag is secured at as many points as there are hooks. The jaws are thus secured by passing the link of a look through the two jaws or any fixed attachments thereof. mall-bag locks, and is fully described and 1 claimed in this specification, and shown in the It is evident that there may be great variation in construction while keeping within the scope of my invention, and I do not therefore wish to limit myself to the precise construction shown; but to illustrate the invention I have shown the hooks as all upon one jaw and the catches as staples and all upon the opposite jaw, the lugs as provided, rcspectively, with a V-shapcd projection, H, and a depression adapted to receive that projection, the look I as passed t-ln'oughthe two lugs that serve to offset the jaws to permit engagement of the hooks, and the jaws themselves of light sheet metal closely riveted. at C, the elasticity of the downwardly-bent portions being relied upon to permit the necessary oifset of the jaws and also to return them to their normal positions when the hooks are in position for engagement; but it is quite immaterial to the more important principles of my invention whether all these details be followed. 8 5

hat I claim is 1. In a mail-bag, the combination, with two pivotally-connected opposing jaws secured to the edges of the bags open end, of a series of hooks arranged at intervals along the inner face of one of said jaws, a series of catches arranged at corresponding intervals along the inner face of the opposing jaw, and lugs having inclined impinging surfaces fixed upon the respective jaws and overlapping when the jaws are closed, whereby the jaws may be thrown bodily in. opposite directions as the bag closes to permit en gagemcnt of the hooks, substantially as set forth.

The combination, with a mail-bag, of two opposing jaws secured to the bags edges,

a series of rigid hooks arranged at intervals along one of said jaws, a series of catches placed at corresponding intervals along the other jaw and adapted to he shnultaneously engaged by said hooks when the jaws are moved bodily in the proper direction with reference to each other, and the look passing through both jaws, or projeetions thereon, to prevent such bodily motion.

3. The combination, with a mail-hag, ol the Mpeeiiieaticm in the presenee of two su'hserihdownwardly bent pivotally connected jaws secured to its edges, the staples fixed at intervals upon one of said jaws, the eorrespondingly-plaeed hooks fixed upon the opposing face of the other jaw and adapted to engage the staples respectively, the lug fixed upon one jaw and having the V-shaped piojeeiion, l

through both lugs and prm enting bodily movement of the jaws with reference to eaeh other, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this ing witnesses.

LYMAN' I CUTLER. 

